News

People with systemic sclerosis (SSc) in Brazil had a weaker immune response to the CoronaVac COVID-19 vaccine than did healthy individuals, a study discovered. The findings also showed that treatment with the immunosuppressant therapy CellCept (mycophenolate mofetil) — an oral medication that improves lung function in SSc patients…

Several risk factors for diastolic dysfunction (DD), the heart’s inability to fill with blood properly after it beats, were identified in people with systemic sclerosis (SSc) in a recent study. These risk factors, such as obesity, could be potentially modified to reduce the occurrence of more serious disease outcomes,…

Cantargia’s investigational antibody treatment, CAN10, showed promise in an animal model of systemic sclerosis (or scleroderma), normalizing several biological indicators of disease and counteracting disease development in the skin and lungs. “We are excited about these new results, showing strong effects of CAN10 in a systemic sclerosis model.

People with sine sclerosis — a rare form of scleroderma without skin involvement — have better survival than those with limited and diffuse scleroderma, according to a retrospective study of up to 18 years of patient data. In addition, male sex, poor lung function, heart involvement, and…

Targeted oxygen-ozone therapy effectively reduced digital ulcers — open sores on the fingers or toes — that had proven resistant to standard treatment in people with systemic sclerosis (SSc), a small study shows. In this complementary treatment, an ozone/oxygen mixture is delivered to the ulcerated area via a…

Patients with scleroderma are more likely to develop restrictive lung disease (RLD) — a precursor to interstitial lung disease (ILD) — if they are nonwhite, according to a multicenter U.S. study. The study, “Baseline characteristics of systemic sclerosis patients with restrictive lung disease in a multi-center US-based…

Among people with systemic scleroderma, education and income are major determinants of perceived functional ability, a new study indicates. Findings also point to skin involvement and age as substantial determinants of functionality. “These results may serve to give clinicians novel insight into the predictive factors of patient function and…

Prometheus Biosciences is planning a clinical trial of its investigational anti-inflammatory and antifibrotic medication PRA023 in people with systemic scleroderma-associated interstitial lung disease (SSc-ILD), a form of scleroderma characterized by inflammation and scarring (fibrosis) in the lungs. The Phase 2 study, called ATHENA-SSc-ILD, is planned to launch early…

Scleroderma renal crisis (SRC), a rare and severe manifestation of systemic scleroderma, is disproportionately common in Blacks, a new study reports. “Black race was independently associated with a higher risk of future SRC,” its researchers wrote. “Further studies are needed to elucidate the mechanisms that underlie this important association.”…

Poor oxygenation in skeletal muscles — those used in voluntary movements — contributes to impaired exercise capacity in people with scleroderma, a study suggests. The study, “Reduced exercise capacity in patients with systemic sclerosis is associated with lower peak tissue oxygen extraction: a cardiovascular magnetic resonance-augmented cardiopulmonary exercise…